Self locking container



July 19, 1966 o. J. KISTNER 3,261,537

SELF LOCKING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOROsur J. Kwmer ATTORNEY July 19, 1966 o. J. KISTNER 3,261,537

SELF LOCKING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTCROscar J. Kis'lner' ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,261,537 SELF LOCKINGCONTAINER Oscar J. Kistner, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The MeadCorporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 18, 1963,Ser. No. 324,329 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-.40)

The pr'esent invention relates to a novel self-locking container.

Generally, there is provided a container particularly adapted for theshipment of individual books or like objects. The device is formed of asingle blank and, when folded, is provided with a pair of integrallyformed end buffer members each in turn provided with a stabilizing tab.The principal featur'e of the invention is a novel lock which consistsof a forwardly extending flap engageable in .a slot in the upper face ofthe container and a pair of rearwardly extending flap-s engageable in apair of slots likewise formed in the upper face of the container. Thisnovel locking structure acts to prevent recollapsing of the container oraccidental disengagement of the same.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel selflocking container which is simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, a novel locking structure including one forwardlyand two rearwardly extending lock flaps, the flaps each being engageablein separate slots in the container structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, novel integrally formed end butler members forminga part of the invention.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a device ofthe character set forth, novel stabilizing tabs forming a part of theinvention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank utilized in forming the container ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 1illustrating the same in partially folded condition;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in a still furtherstate of its assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating a still further step in theassembly of the container;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the device partially closed;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 7; and,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the device in fully closedcondition.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown therein a top panel 10 to eachside of which is connected along fold lines 11, 12, 13 and 14,successive panels 15, 16, 17 and 18. To the inner edge of each of thepanels 17 there is connected along a fold line 19 a stabilizing tab 20.

Panels 15, 16, 17 and 18 are adapted to be folded in- Wardly each atright angles to the next so that panel 18 will come to rest upon theadjacent surface of panel 10, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, thus formingbuffer members generally designated at 21. When buffer members 21 are soasembled, it will be seen that stabilizing tabs 20 will extend inwardlyfrom each end of panel 10 and at right angles thereto.

To the inner edge of panel 10 there is connected 3,261,537 Patented July19, 1966 along a fold line 22 a side panel 23 which is, in turn,connected by a fold line 24 with a bottom panel 25 which is, in'turn,connected by a fold line 26 to a side panel 27 which, in turn, is'connected along a fold line 28 to a locking structure gen'erallydesignated at 29.

Panel 10, it will be seen, is rectangular in shape and is providedsubstantially centrally with a longitudinally extending slot 30 and, inspaced parallel relation thereto, a pair of linearly aligned slots 31.

Referring to locking structure 29, it will be seen that there isprovided a body 32 having outwardly directed inwardly converging sides33 terminating in a forwardly directed lock tab 35 connected along afold line 36 to a flap body 37. Body 37 is connected by a pair of foldlines 38 to the main body 32 and fold lines 38 are interconnected by asubstantially U-shaped slit 39 into which extends a pair of rearwardlyextending lock tabs 40 which are integrally formed with body 37. Each ofthe tabs 40 is provided with a fold line 41 adjacent its free edge.

In operation, buffer members 21 are first assembled as above describedwhereupon a book or other object to be packed in said container isplaced upon panel 10 between buffer members 21 and against thestabilizing tabs 20 as indicated in dotted lines at 42 in FIGURE 6. Endpanel 23 is then bent vertically b'ehind stabilizing tabs 20 and bottompanel 25 is then bent over buffer members 21 whereupon the entireassembly is turned upside down as shown in FIGURE 4 and end panel 27then bent vertically and lock structure 29 bent inwardly and lock tab 35inserted into slot 30 while at the same time the lock tabs 40 areinserted into slots 31. It will be seen that lock tabs 35 and 40 willfirst impinge against the book or other object 42 and thus be guided toa susbtantially flat position beneath cover 20, all as'indicated inFIGURES 5 and 7. Fold lines 41, see FIGURE 1, act to assist in guidingthe end portions of lock tabs 40 into slots 31 during this operation. Itwill also be apparent that in the assembled device, the end buffermembers 21 are maintained in position by the stabilizing tabs 20 sincethe book or other object 42 will bear against tabs 20 and like the tabs20, being of the same width as the width of adjacent panel 23 areprevented from turning and hence will act to maintain buffer members 21in position at all times.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minormodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A devic'e of the character described comprising a top panel, a firstside panel, a bottom panel, and a second side panel successivelyinterconnected by fold lines to one edge of said top panel, buffermembers formed integrally with each side of said top panel, a lockingstructure interconnected by a fold line to said second side panel, saidlocking structure including a body portion connected to a flap body by apair of spaced fold lines interconnected by a substantially U-shapedslit in said body portion for receiving a pair of spaced apartrearwardly extending lock tabs integrally formed with said flap body andsymmetrically disposed relative to the central axis of a forwardlyextending lock tab connected by a fold line to said flap body, and meansfor readily det-achably securing said lock tabs to said top panelincluding slots formed therein and registering with each of said locktabs.

2. A device of the character described comprising a top panel, a firstside panel, a bottom pan'el, and a second side panel successivelyinterconnected by fold lines to one edge of said top panel, buffermembers formed integrally with each side of said top panel, astabilizing flap formed integrally with each of said buffer members andextending inwardly adjacent the inner face of said first side panel, alocking structure interconnected by a fold line to said second sidepanel, and means for engaging said locking structure with said toppanel, said locking structure including a body portion connected to aflap body by a pair of spaced fold lines interconnected by asubstantially U-shaped slit in said body portion for receiving a pair ofspaced apart rearwardly extending lock tabs integrally formed with saidflap body and symmetrically disposed relative to the central axis of aforwardly extending lock tab connected by a fold line to said flap body,and means for readily detachably securing said lock tabs to said toppanel including slots formed therein and registering with each of saidlock tabs.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein a fold tab is connected toeach of said rearwardly directed tabs by a score lin'e adjacent the freeedge thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 681,68'5 9/1901Dominguez 229-16 1,448,864 3/1923 Pinkerton 229-16 2,132,957 10/1938Mahone 229-16 2,275,134 3/1942 Davidson 229-51 2,684,758 7/1954 Aquino229-40 2,990,997 7/ 1961 Weiss 229-40 3,125,279 3/1964 Watts et a1.229-40 3,194,476 6/1965 Weiss 229-40 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, PrimaryExaminer.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

J. F. MCNULTY, D. T. MOORHEAD,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A TOP PANEL, A FIRSTSIDE PANEL, A BOTTOM PANEL, AND A SECOND SIDE PANEL SUCCESSIVELYINTERCONNECTED BY FOLD LINES TO ONE EDGE OF SAID TOP PANEL, BIFFERMEMBERS FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH EACH SIDE OF SAID TOP PANEL, A LOCKINGSTRUCTURE INTERCONNECTED BY A FOLD LINE TO SAID SECOND SIDE PANEL, SAIDLOCKING STRUCTURE INCLUDING A BODY PORTION CONNECTED TO A FLAP BODY BY APAIR OF SPACED FOLD LINES INTERCONNECTED BY A SUSBTANTIALLY U-SHAPEDSLIT IN SAID BODY PORTION FOR RECEIVING A PAIR OF SPACED APARTREARWARDLY EXTENDING LOCK TABS INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID FLAP BODY ANDSYMMETRICALLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE CENTRAL AXIS OF A FORWARDLYEXTENDING LOCK TAB CONNECTED BY A FOLD LINE TO SAID FLAP BODY, AND MEANSFOR READILY DETACHABLY SECURING SAID LOCK TABS TO SAID TOP PANELINCLUDING SLOTS FORMED THEREIN AND REGISTERING WITH EACH OF SAID LOCKTABS.